They will take part in 22 workshops covering all aspects of sustaining development in the world's economically and geographically vulnerable islands.

Social ills, poverty, communications, the environment, natural disasters, financial strategies, political and environmental self determination are some of the topics to be covered in the April 20 to May 6 conference.

The UN Non-Governmental Organisations Conference on Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States is a follow-up to the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil.

"We want to ensure that certain policies and actions which were agreed to are put in place,'' said NGO Forum coordinator in Barbados Dr. Paul Kamarakafego, who was born in Bermuda.

"NGOs make up governments and put governments in place, so we will lobby them at the highest level to ensure that the agreements are implemented.'' Enforcement of a convention on climate change is one agreement NGOs will be pursuing, he said.

"Many governments signed this document at the Earth Summit but few have implemented it,'' he noted.

The convention deals with the reduction of certain gases which are said to be responsible for change in climate and sea levels.

"Industrialised countries are the manufacturers and biggest users of these gases -- small island developing states are the greatest sufferers.'' A goal is to get NGOs to start lobbying governments to pass legislation for Clean Air Acts in order to control the use of fossil fuels and replace them with alternate forms of energy, such as solar, wind, hydropower and thermal energy.

The Bermuda delegation will include former independent MP and environmentalist Mr. Stuart Hayward, former Progressive Labour Party MP Mr. Julian Hall, Shadow Environment Minister Mr. Trevor Woolridge MP, a representative of Progressive Youth, Independence campaigner Mr. Walton Brown and others.

The Bermuda Biological Station for Research will be represented by sister marine stations in America and Canada, Dr. Kamarakafego said.